Heater

[moreheads]

Ok. Stupid question..i think i know the answer...but here goes. Car is warm...heater blowing cold. I am assuming this is due to low rad fluid? Meant to check this morning...forgot.

It does blow warm air when engine is rev'd, but cold again when idling.

Co-worker said that if the rad fluid is low, it will prioritize what it needs for the engine, and if there is not enough for the heater...it will not heat...
Sounds logical to me, is this so?

Thanks!

[rmuller]

Uhm, open the hood when the engine cold and look at it.. you can see the level marked 'cold' on the coolant overflow tank.

Could also be a shot thermostat.

[moreheads]

My overflow tank is black. Is there a level indicator somewhere on it? I couldnt see it...every overflow tank I have ever had in a car has been somewhat translucent...

[rmuller]

Ohh.. I forgot the D1/RRC's overflow tanks are black... i'm not sure... try opening it when its cold (dont want pressure)... I think there is a dip-stick on the cap.

[moreheads]

Thats what I thought. Thanks!

[Disco Mike]

If your heater only works under RPM's then it is safe to say you have air trapped in the engine from a low coolant issue, could be head gaskets and should be filled and tested ASAP either by a coolant pressurew test or chemical test.
Mike

[moreheads]

The coolent pressure test..i am assuming this is something that should be done by my mechanic? Or is this something I can do myself...duh...

[CanuckIIA]

After you have run your engine for a while, open your hood and check your oil cap, (is it mounted to your valve cover?). If it looks like there is hot chocolate froth on the bottom of it, you most likely have coolant getting into your oil. Probably from a head gasket, hopefully not from a cracked block.

If you oil looks good and your coolant level is low, then you probably have a minor leak somewhere in your cooling system. Top it up with a coolant and water, (50/50 unless you buy premixed), and monitor it closely for further loss. If you continue to lose coolant try o find the leak. Look around hoses and gasket after you have just ran your Rover.

Let us know if you have had any work done recently by yourself or a mechanic that involved draining the coolant.

Hope this helps, good luck and let us know how it works out.

[moreheads]

I will take a look later. Apparently, the car did start to heat up well, without having done anything to it yet. But I will check for that.

Thanks for the info!

[werldcup]

Don't assume the problem is fixing itself. If you have a coolant problem you can expect to have an engine problem very soon. Better to explore this further before you are thousands into repairs later.

[Disco Mike]

I agree, don't make the mistake of thinking there is no problem, Rovers are none to have coolant problems, especially head ggaskets. Go to a small shop or radiator shop and have them pressure test the system, better to find out then drop a sleeve hence an engine.
Mike

[moreheads]

Oh, I am not assuming anything! I will defnintely get it looked at. Just going to check a few things myself, as listed above...then go from there..

Thanks!